Brief overview
- What is behind brittle fingernails? e.g. nutrient deficiency, cleaning agents, mechanical force, various diseases.
- What nutrient deficiency can make fingernails brittle? e.g. deficiency of calcium or of various vitamins (A, B, C, biotin or folic acid).
- What to do in case of brittle fingernails? Depending on the cause, e.g. balanced diet, wearing gloves when washing dishes or handling cleaning agents, using special nail polishes or creams, treatment of an underlying disease.
Brittle fingernails: causes and possible diseases.
Brittle fingernails not only look unsightly and are annoying – for example, if you get them caught on your own knitted sweater. They can also indicate a nutrient deficiency or a (serious) disease.
Common causes of brittle fingernails are:
- Incorrect care: Anyone who files their fingernails roughly or squeezes them tightly with nail clippers can damage the nail structure. In addition, artificial nails and a manicure with gel colors can soften the horny layer and make it brittle.
- Skin diseases: Sometimes brittle fingernails can be attributed to a skin condition such as nail fungus, psoriasis, eczema or nodular lichen (lichen ruber; an inflammatory skin condition with itchy, reddish nodules).
- Thyroid disorders: Both an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and an underactive parathyroid gland (hypoparathyroidism) can be responsible for brittle fingernails.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (chronic polyarthritis): Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease and the most common form of rheumatic disease. It can cause, among other things, dull, brittle fingernails, nail growth disorders and small hemorrhages under the nails.
- Cytostatics (chemotherapeutic agents): These agents inhibit the growth of cells that multiply rapidly. They are mainly used in cancer therapy. A possible side effect of this chemotherapy can be thin, brittle fingernails.
What nutrient deficiency can cause brittle fingernails?
In addition to the above causes, some nutrient deficiencies can also be the reason for brittle fingernails. For example, an undersupply of certain minerals or vitamins can lead to brittle nails:
- Vitamin deficiency: Sometimes thin, brittle fingernails are a sign of a deficiency of vitamin B, vitamin C, biotin, folic acid or cobalamin. A deficiency of vitamin A (retinol) also causes dry, splintery, brittle fingernails.
In the case of vitamin A, however, not only a deficiency but also an overdose can make fingernails brittle.
Brittle fingernails: What to do?
With the following tips you can do something yourself against brittle fingernails or support the therapy of the underlying disease:
- Balanced diet: A balanced diet is important for healthy, strong nails. It may be useful to take additional dietary supplements (e.g. biotin or silicon preparations). Ask your doctor about this.
- Work gloves: It is best to wear work gloves when working in water (washing dishes, mopping floors, etc.).
- special nail care: oil baths and hand packs are proven methods against brittle fingernails. To improve nail strength, you can use special preparations such as nail oil or nail cream. Plant oils such as almond and olive oil are also suitable for regular nail care.
- Care cream after shower or bath: After a daily shower or bath, not only the skin is happy about a care cream – the nails also benefit from it.
- Special nail polish: Special nail polishes can give brittle nails more strength by supplying minerals and a protective film. You should apply the water-soluble varnishes daily, preferably before going to bed. You can also use them under cosmetic nail polishes. However, if you have brittle nails, it may be wise to refrain from using colorful polish for a while. Because before each new nail color, the old one must be removed with nail polish remover. And this is not good for the nails.
Home remedies and alternative healing approaches have their limits. If the complaints persist over a longer period of time, do not get better or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
Brittle fingernails: What does the doctor do?
To get to the bottom of the cause of brittle fingernails, the doctor will first have a detailed conversation with the patient about the medical history (anamnesis). He will inquire, for example, about dietary habits, possible contact with chemicals or any other complaints and diseases.
The interview is followed by a physical examination, during which the doctor examines the nails in more detail. If the medical history interview and the physical examination reveal indications of an underlying disease as the cause of the brittle nails, further examinations may be useful:
How the doctor can treat brittle fingernails
If brittle fingernails are due to an underlying disease, their treatment can also improve the strength of the nails. For example, in the case of iron deficiency anemia, an iron supplement can help. In the case of nail fungus, special nail polishes or ointments with fungicidal substances are effective.
